Quincy's soil composition of gravel and sand are conducive to producing wines that display the citrus and herbal qualities of sauvignon blanc.

Small museums are often a place for quiet reflection; so too are wines such as the 2012 Laporte Quincy Les Niorles.

In the world of sauvignon blanc wines, Sancerre is like the Louvre: Everyone wants to say they know it even when they don’t. Sancerre, located in the Loire Valley, reigns as the king of sauvignon blanc, dominating the conversation and garnering a comparatively royal price. Sancerre also produces a small amount of red wine from pinot noir that few consumers know, along with a rosé, known least of all.

But a few miles southwest of Sancerre lies the village of Quincy (KAN-see),where only sauvignon blanc is produced.

Quincy’s vineyards are along the banks and hillsides of the Cher River. The soil’s composition of gravel and sand are conducive to producing wines that display the citrus and herbal qualities of sauvignon blanc, along with a more delicate texture than those coming from Sancerre. They are wines that please without showboating.

The Laporte family produced Loire Valley wines from 1850 until 1986, when Rene Laporte sold the estate to Jean-Marie Bourgeois. The purchase preserved the renowned name of the Laporte estate and merged two dedicated winemaking families.

The 2012 Laporte Quincy Les Niorles is as clear as spring water and instantly appealing with its fragrant lime, lemon and thyme scents. A medium body is built around layers of Granny Smith apple, thyme and lime flavors that contain a lively acidity, the hallmark of every first-rate sauvignon blanc.

Most wine consumers see red when they want a wine with cheese; go white, I say. Red wine overwhelms nearly every cheese, whereas the acidity and citrus traits of many white wines underscore and flatter most cheeses. My glass of the 2012 Laporte Quincy Les Niorles was perfect with slices of Reblochon and Pont l’Eveque. And not to be forgotten is how it made me pause more than a few times to admire its friendliness with a mushroom risotto.

At the outer edge of Paris’ 16th arrondissement sits the Musée Marmottan Monet, once the former town house of lawyer, politican and art collector Jules Marmottan. It contains the largest collection in the world of Monet paintings, along with other great impressionist works. Like Quincy, its inconspicuousness offers a quiet moment of pleasure and reflection. Let the crowds have the Louvre and Sancerre.

Martine’s Wines in California distributes the 2012 Laporte Quincy Les Niorles; the New Jersey contact is Gil Bauer (973)809-3028. The wine retails for about $19.